£7.7 million windfall for bus tycoon

NEWLY knighted transport tycoon Sir Brian Souter is set to receive a £7.7 million windfall after high fuel prices forced mot-orists out of their cars and on to buses, triggering bumper profits for his Stagecoach group.

Sir Brian founded Stagecoach with his sister, Ann Gloag, in 1980 with just two buses, but yesterday posted a 27.5 per cent jump in profits to 205.7m, with turnover rising by 10 per cent to 2.4 billion.

The entrepreneur, who is Stagecoach's chief executive, owns about 108 million shares or about 15 per cent of the company.